A40 crash in London leaves two dead after police chase

Two people were killed in a car that drove down the wrong side of the road and hit a coach following a lengthy police pursuit in west London.

The man and woman died on the A40 in Acton, at about 21:00 GMT on Sunday.

A second man was hurt in the crash, which took place after the pursuit began seven miles away in Harrow after reports of an aggravated burglary.

The Met Police said its officers did not follow when the car went down the wrong side of the A40.

Fire and ambulance crews, along with the police helicopter, were called in and roads in the area – near the A40’s junction with Kingsdown Avenue – were closed.

Transport for London said the roads reopened in both directions at 07:45.

The crash happened about 20 minutes after the police pursuit began in Harrow.

“It wasn’t like a normal car accident,” eyewitness Antoine Eid, 47, said, adding that there was “no chance” of the coach slowing down before the crash.

“I’ve never seen something like that.”

The second man was later taken to hospital for treatment, although the extent of his injuries have not been confirmed.

There were no reports of any other serious injuries, the Met said.

The Directorate of Professional Standards and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) have been informed.

IOPC regional director Jonathan Green said: “My thoughts are with the families and friends of the two people who have died, those injured and all those affected by this incident.

“It is important that we now establish all of the circumstances surrounding this collision.

“We have therefore launched an independent investigation into the events leading to the collision and have immediately deployed our investigators to attend the scene and the post incident procedure where further information will be gathered.”

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At the scene

By Greg McKenzie, BBC News, London

The coach was being hoisted up onto a tow truck at about 06:15 to be taken away from the crash scene.

Highways workers could be seen clearing the road of the glass and debris which had come from the collision.

Residents who live just off the A40 told me about hearing the crash, the aftermath and a helicopter hovering above.

One person said the car had hit the railings and then went into the coach after driving on the wrong side of the road.